Hopes for a new East Village home for Streecha Ukrainian Kitchen's former chef

Photo and reporting by Stacie Joy

Photo from May 18 

Updated 5/31: Streecha reopens today under new management. In this post, Rev. Father Johan Lubiv, the administrator of St. George Ukrainian Catholic Church for the past four years, discusses what has transpired here recently.

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Yesterday, the closure of Streecha Ukrainian Kitchen, a favorite no-frills spot for many residents over the years, was met with shock and sadness. 

According to the operators, the unnamed landlord of the building at 33 E. Seventh St. between Second Avenue and Cooper Square "decided to go in a different direction." 

The news hit several days after the annual Saint George Ukrainian Festival on the block, where the subterranean space remained busy during the weekend.

The news of their departure was a complete surprise to Dima Kovalenko, the chef overseeing the kitchen for the past 10 years. 

"The owner wants to do some renovations ... and then use it for their needs," he said. 

Despite the sudden closure, there is a ray of hope. After our post yesterday afternoon, Kovalenko said several community members stepped up with potential storefronts in the neighborhood so that Streecha could continue serving their traditional Ukrainian cuisine. 

However, this remains in the exploratory phase.

While he's heartened by the response from regulars and the potential new space, he said that it will not be the same. 

Streecha has been helping generate income for the St. George Ukrainian Catholic Church on the block since the 1970s. Many church members also serve as volunteers, and they gather here on Fridays to help make the vareniki (Ukrainian dumplings).

Public records list Order of St. Basil the Great, Inc. as the property owner.